BPL Book Review: "The Collected Regrets of Clover" by Mikki Brammer

 

Would you be a death doula? Have you ever even heard of the profession before? 

 Recently, I read The Collected Regrets of Clover, a new release and debut novel by Mikki Brammer. In it, the main character, Clover, is a death doula. A death doula is someone who stays with someone as they pass away and provides comfort, companionship, and helps the process for all those involved.

The story follows Clover as she journeys to find the long-lost companion of Claudia, a dying elderly woman who regrets not following the love she found when she was young. Throughout the adventure, Clover stumbles upon her own romance and friendship, something she never thought she wanted. With her own grief and regrets, and the ones she hears from her clients, she feels out of place and stuck. Bit by bit, through the people she meets and the paths she follows, she’s able to start working through her regrets and learn how to live, not just die.

I love characters that pull you in and make you wish they were real and Brammer writes them well. You might think a book primarily about death and regrets would be sad and heavy, and you’d be right, but it’s also funny and thought-provoking and inspiring. It leaves you thankful for life and thinking about your own future.

It’s one of those books that really sticks with you and grows in your mind. Brammer’s sensitivity and respect for the morbid topics kept the book from being too intense and dark and I enjoyed the levity she provided with moments of pure humor.

I recommend this to anyone who wants a reflective book with colorful characters and an odd premise. It might not be for everyone, but it’s my favorite book I’ve read this year so far and it could be yours too! 

The Collective Regrets of a Clover is available for checkout from several JCLC member libraries including BPL by clicking here.   

By Julie Higginbottom, Library Assistant III, North Birmingham Regional Branch Library